Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper has been elected by the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Board of Directors as their Board Chairman for the next two years. Sheriff Leeper has served on the Board for the past three years and most recently chaired the Finance/Human Resources Committee.

Founded in 1957, the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has been improving the lives of at-risk children through several Florida locations and comprehensive programs. The Sheriffs Youth Ranches is credited with helping more than 136,000 children and families in Florida.

By utilizing the Boys Ranch/Live Oak, Youth Villa/Bartow, Youth Ranch/Safety Harbor and Youth Ranch/Bradenton-Sarasota, the Youth Ranches trained and devoted staff are well-equipped to nurture needy, neglected boys and girls, and provide a warm sense of security, guidance and tenderness. Youth are cared for by “cottage parents” who help develop a strong work ethic, sense of responsibility, teamwork and respect in each child making sure they are given the same opportunities to attend school and participate in extracurricular activities as their peers. Ninety percent of the youth participating in the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches graduate from high school.

The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop lawful, resilient and productive citizens.

For more information about the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, please visit their website at www.youthranches.org.

Picture: Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart passes the gavel to Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper after he was elected Chairman of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Board of Directors